not severe, rough, or violent; mild: a gentle wind; a gentle tap on the shoulder.
moderate: gentle heat.
gradual: a gentle slope.
of good birth or family; wellborn.
characteristic of good birth; honorable; respectable: a gentle upbringing.
easily handled or managed; tractable: a gentle animal.
soft or low: a gentle sound.
polite; refined: Consider, gentle reader, my terrible predicament at this juncture.
entitled to a coat of arms; armigerous.
Archaic. noble; chivalrous: a gentle knight.
verb (used with object),gen·tled,gen·tling.
to tame; render tractable.
to mollify; calm; pacify.
to make gentle.
to stroke; soothe by petting.
to ennoble; dignify.
Origin of gentle
1175–1225; Middle English gentle, gentil(e), from Old French gentil “highborn, noble,” from Latin gentīlis “belonging to the same family,” equivalent to gent- (stem of gēns ) gens + -īlis -le
1. Gentle,meek,mild refer to an absence of bad temper or belligerence. Gentle has reference especially to disposition and behavior, and often suggests a deliberate or voluntary kindness or forbearance in dealing with others: a gentle pat; gentle with children.Meek implies a submissive spirit, and may even indicate undue submission in the face of insult or injustice: meek and even servile or weak.Mild suggests absence of harshness or severity, rather because of natural character or temperament than conscious choice: a mild rebuke; a mild manner.